3: Official escort | Jason celebrates | Leaving Vancouver harbour, on our way NORTH. | Our bon voyage party from the Vancouver, BC harbour was a lot of fun. Jason and I indulged in a Heineken and watched the sights.

4: Our room on the ship was cozy and hand quite a view off the balcony...

5: Can you see our marine escort?

6: Sitka was our first port of call on the cruise. There is no dock large enough to accommodate our ship at Sitka, so we ferried into the town on the little tender boats, and embarked on our bus tour of the area. There were many sights to see.

7: At the dock | Sitka, Alaska Day 3

8: A once mighty cedar.

9: In Sitka, we visited the museum and local park where we saw local artisans creating totem poles and dugout canoes. We were able to see Tlingit dancers as well.

11: At the lookout in Sitka, we stopped to drink our drugstore malts and see the sights of the area. Sitka was originally a Tlingit fort, then a Russian outpost that the local Tlingit tribe sacked and held for many years before it was retaken by the Russians. It was once known as the 'Paris of the Pacific'

12: The temperature dropped perceptibly the closer we got the glacier. We stood on the top deck and drank hot cocoa to keep the chill at bay. | Hubbard Glacier, Day 4 of the cruise

13: The glacier was "calving" when we approached and groaned as chunks fell from it. | Brrr!

15: Kelly's close-up | The glacier was immense. The boat was able to get close so we got some great views.

16: Mendenhall Glacier, near Juneau, Alaska. Day 5 of the cruise.

17: We were able to hike up close to the glacier.

18: Juneau, Alaska, Red Dog Saloon

19: Need a sasparilla? | The saloon was a stop for Wyatt Earp many years ago.

20: Day 6: A trip to Ketchikan, Alaska

22: Jeep excursion into the mountains near Ketchikan. A quick ride to the lake, to start.

23: Into the wilderness! | Jason prepared for canoing. | That's a paddlin! | Once we got to the lake, we parked the Jeeps and prepared to board our canoes, for a journey on the water.

24: On the hike...

25: Across the lake, we stopped for a quick snack and then went for a walk in the woods. The cedar trees were so great to wander through.

26: In the bush | "Yeah, I drove here!" | On the road... | Bringing up the rear

27: The Jeep may have gone through more than a few puddles not on the main trail! | We were in a convoy! | Fantastic views

28: Marty and Kelly | View of the tunnel | At the dock | Moosing around!

29: Back to the ship | Jason and Marty | Ketchikan is built out on stilts. Much of the town is over the water, and then rises into the hills. | Our last moments in Ketchikan before beginning the journey back to Vancouver...